methane

The European Methane Regulation came into force on 5 August 2024. It is part of the EU's ‘Fit for 55’ package, which aims at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the EU by at least 55 percent by 2030. Moreover, Germany committed to reduce methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030 compared to 2020 levels at the 26th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC.

Tilling, nitrogen fertilizers and livestock farming are key sources of the greenhouse gases nitrous oxide and methane, as the statistics clearly show: in 2016 59 per cent of all methane emissions and 80 per cent of all nitrous oxide emissions resulted from agricultural activities. Hence abatement measures are urgently needed in this domain.